The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has cleared the air regarding the recent protest by the Community Policing Constables in Ilorin, Kwara State, saying the scheme is voluntary not paid employment.
Members of the scheme had in a protest that went viral on social media lamented the non-payment of salaries in the state.
The protest was said to have caused serious traffic gridlock along the popular Ahmadu Bello way in Illorin, the state capital.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Force is purely voluntary service for those who are engaged in other paid jobs.
Adejobi, who said it was shocking that members of the scheme were protesting, also noted that the constables are not direct employees/personnel of the Police but those carrying out voluntary services for their respective communities in collaboration with the NPF.
He said, “The Nigeria Police Force, due to the imperativeness of addressing and clarifying issues surrounding the recent protest of Community Policing Constables in Ilorin, Kwara State, wishes to state unequivocally that the Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Force is a purely voluntary service commenced by the Federal Government to train and incorporate individuals with prior paid employment who desire to spend their spare time assisting the police in its simple police tasks within their various communities.
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“It, therefore, came as a rude shock that members of the scheme were protesting non-payment of salaries in Kwara State recently when the ultimate purpose and rule of engagement of the scheme is to promote community partnership in crime control via the presence of respected members of the public, with a source of livelihood, partnering with the Force under the scheme to render voluntary service for better and improved policing within their communities.
“The scheme clearly delineates the roles of the Community Policing Constables, who are not direct employees/personnel of the Police but of their respective communities, at both divisional and state levels to include assisting the police in crime detection and prevention, conflict resolution, intelligence gathering and dissemination to local Police Commanders, maintenance of law and order, deployment to complement conventional police officers in patrolling their communal public space, advising the public on safety, crime prevention, and security tips, dealing with minor offences and social vices, working with relevant stakeholders on crime control, and traffic management and school safety duties.
“The Nigeria Police, therefore, re-emphasizes the fact that the scheme is voluntary and no payments were agreed with the individuals under the scheme neither were paid terms of appointment discussed prior to its commencement. Subsequently, considering the fact that a protest for payment when there is no basis for such is mischievous and ill-conceived; the Force, however, will be taking adequate measures to review the effectiveness of the scheme as soon as possible.”
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